The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1887-08-11

Ann, with her face turned away.
'Oh, Mary Ann--and | had count
ed on your
4 cannot! frigidly repeated the
girl.
Miss Marston stood silent for q
minute or two.
But you haven't congratulate d
me yet. Mary Ann,' said she, coax
inly.
Mary Aann withdrew hersolispas-
medically from tie light touch d
her hand.
I'm sure l hopo you will be very
happy, said she. No don't either,
] don't hope anything Of that kind!
Aud sbo fed away, sobbiug and
holding tight to tho tea kettle, whose
spout drippod all tho way in most
lachry matory fashion.
The kerosene lamp was lighted
when sho reached tho room where
tho balls Of carpet rags wore piled
mp. John Fairweather himself was
leaning againsL the wooden mantle
arch with his elbow in dangerous
proximity to tho case OF died but
toItlics, bnt her aunt wa9 nowhere
to DO seen.
'Sho bad gone mp stairs, tho
young man explained, in answer to
Mary Anus bewiliered look, TO get
a bag Of hops for old Mrs uubbord's
neuralgia Arc you i'll, Mary Aun?
you look 80 white aud weary.
With goutlo authority he took the,
tea-kettlo faom her hand, and set it
on the stove, Mary Ann holplessly
regarding him the while.
How tall aud straight and hand
somo he was! How pleasant sboDe
The light from his genial, hazel eyos!
How dearly sho had learned to love
him! And now it must all bo un-
dono again! Was it not almost
wicked to allow herself to look adj
miiingly upon the face Of tho man
who belonged to Aida Marstop?
With theso thoughts in Der heart,
it was no wonder that her expression
grew trd:id Ms en- icicle. She paS
no bed TO his question.
trMiss Marston was ont by tho we'll
Just now snil sho 'You will find
her there
Miss Mnrston, ehl, said Mr. Fair
weather, with provoking equanimity,
That rominis me you haven't told
mo yot what yon think Of our family
arrangements We're yon surprised?
Mary Ann looked at him in amaze.
mont, almott in anger.
'Oi course | was surprised said
she. But. gathering all her pres-
ence of mind, Il don't know why.
Ii is no business Of minel
But it is, though said John Fair
weather. 1t has only driven me a
littlo sooner than otherwise antici-
pated. to ask you to listen to my
suit Miss Aida must not imagine
that she 10 tho ouly person in the
world who can get married.
Mary Aun drew herself up,
Mr., Fairweather, said she, j must
beg you to remember yourself. We
are not Mormous here Neither arc
you any relation to Bluebearl. III
this country man can have but ono
wifer
Mr.. Fairweather looked puzzled.
An indisputable fact, said he.
But | know Of no ono who il con.
tradicting it,
'How-how dare you insult me by
such words as thisi' cried poor
Mary Ann. You, that arc engaged
to Miss Aida MarstopF
But l am not engaged to Miss
Aida Msrston.
'Mr. Fairweather'
Il am not indeed, he said Dear
little Mary Ann, do not look at mo
with such incredulous eyosl Hiss
Aida Marston is aflilnced to nay faith
or. She is to bo my stop mother,
next mouth. And az would uatur-
ally, under tho existing circumstan-
ces. prefer home of my own, want
you to bo its household angelp
Not another word was spoken
Mary AIMS soft eyes. brimming
over with glad tears, were lifted to
Johns face.
She stole toward him and hid her
crimson check against his shoulder.
his arm tightened itself, in tho most
natural manner in the world, around
her waist.